SPECIAL REPORT: MEDIA COVERAGE OF SECRETARY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 NEW DELHI 001514

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NP, AC, PM

STATE FOR INR/MR

STATE FOR SCA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO

STATE FOR SCA/PPD, PA/RRU

STATE FOR AID/APRE-A

USDOC FOR 4530/IEP/ANESA/OSA FOR BILL MURPHY

E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: SPECIAL REPORT: MEDIA COVERAGE OF SECRETARY
CLINTON'S VISIT

SUMMARY: Secretary Clinton left behind an astounding
body of positive media coverage as she departed India
today after a successful four-day visit. The national
media highlighted the final outcomes of the visit - the
announcement of the "end-use monitoring" and
"technology safeguards" pacts; New Delhi's approving
two sites for U.S. companies to build nuclear power
plants; and the invitation extended to PM Singh for a
state visit to Washington November 24. Media reports
said an emotionally-inclined India applauded the
Secretary's personal "prose and poetry" touch in her
interactions with the country's students and civil
society.

Some analysts said the visit dispelled any remaining
fears that the Obama administration would neglect India
as it focused on getting Pakistan's help against
insurgents on the Afghan border. Editorials welcomed
the Secretary's decision to drop the customary stop in
Pakistan, saying that the U.S. had finally come to
accept India on its own terms. A leading business daily
said Obama Administration has decided to continue the
Bush Administration's "royal treatment" of India. A
widely-respected commentator said that the Secretary
left behind the lasting image that the United States
wants to see India emerge as a player on the global
stage. Barring some skepticism editorial reaction was
positive. Commentary from India's leading English and
language newspapers follows. End summary.

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NEWS SUMMARY
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1. The Secretary's press conference with External
Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna generated lead stories
today. Reports said U.S. and India announced they had
agreed on an "end-use monitoring" pact that takes a
major step toward allowing the sale of sophisticated
U.S. arms to India.


2. Secretary Clinton said New Delhi had approved two
sites for U.S. companies to build nuclear power plants.
Secretary Clinton said that PM Manmohan Singh had
accepted an invitation to make a state visit to
Washington on November 24 in what would be the first
such visit by a foreign leader under President Obama.
As part their efforts to strengthen ties, the two
countries reportedly agreed to form a "strategic
dialogue" led by Secretary Clinton and Minister Krishna
who will meet annually.

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G-8 N-STATEMENT NOT MEANT FOR INDIA: US
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3. Commenting on the Secretary Clinton's clarification
that the G-8 declaration on curbing transfer of
enrichment and reprocessing technology would not apply
to India, India's revered business daily said the
Secretary had put "Obama's stamp on India's unique

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status in the world's civilian nuclear hierarchy." By
doing so, the Secretary had made a clear distinction
between India and rogue countries that attempt to get
such technologies and items through inappropriate
means, the paper said.

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NOTED FOREIGN EDITORS AND THEIR INTERPRETATIONS
-------------- --


4. In their first reactions, top foreign affairs
journalists had different interpretations to offer on
the visit. "This is clearly a response from Washington
to the perception in Delhi that the U.S. had forgotten
India," Siddharth Varadarajan, strategic affairs editor
of THE HINDU said.


5. "Soothing ruffled feathers in India about a
perceived lack of interest by the Obama administration
after the golden Bush years, Secretary Clinton talked
about democracy being 'a stronger base for
relationships than any other in the world.' Through her
visit, Secretary Clinton successfully pressed the right
buttons in India," wrote Indrani Bagchi, Foreign
Editor, THE TIMES OF INDIA.


6. "The real desire of the Obama administration is to
make India think big picture," wrote Pramitpal
Chowdhury, Foreign Editor, THE HINDUSTAN TIMES. "The
conclusion of an end-use-monitoring agreement is a
major breakthrough as this opens the door for Indian
purchases of high-technology weapons systems from the
U.S. While this is lucrative for the US, these systems
are necessary for "hardening" India's perimeter against
terrorist attacks."

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EDITORIALS IN INDIA'S LEADING ENGLISH DAILIES
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7. "FRANK AND FAIR," editorial in July 21 centrist,
independent national English daily THE TIMES OF INDIA:
"Hillary Clinton's visit to India has so far been
according to script. She has made encouraging
statements on security issues, acknowledging that
Pakistan hosts a syndicate of terror, though she has
not been forthright in addressing India's concerns
about the free run that the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-
e-Mohammed continue to enjoy in Pakistan.


8. "Clinton, who began her trip in Mumbai, is
addressing a broad range of issues on her maiden visit
as secretary of state. This bodes well for bilateral
ties between the two countries.... The canvas of Indo-US
ties should however go beyond the terrorism motif.
Clinton's expansive agenda on her trip here is
promising. Both sides have agreed to undertake more
collaborative projects across a variety of fields,
including energy and trade."


9. "THE SOFT TOUCH," editorial in July 20 centrist

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English daily, DAILY NEWS & ANALYSIS: "US secretaries
of state are hard-nosed realists, whose job is to
travel the world and relentlessly pursue American
interests.... Clinton is as hard-nosed as they come, but
apart from discussing terrorism and climate change, why
this warm and fuzzy side to her itinerary? First,
Clinton is a woman of many parts and has even earlier
shown a tendency towards education and social issues....
Let it also not be forgotten than Clinton is above all
a politician. The earlier women secretaries of state,
Madeleine Albright and Condoleezza Rice were basically
international relations experts and policy wonks....
Clinton was never a folksy person like her husband, but
she has schooled herself to meet with people from all
walks of life and connect with them -- the true
business of a politician.... Hillary Clinton's tour
program therefore was no accident; it meets her as well
as her government's objectives well."


10. "A DECENT PROPOSAL," editorial in July 21 pro-
Congress Party, centrist English daily, THE HINDUSTAN
TIMES: "Hillary Clinton's visit kicks off the India
policy of the administration of Barack Obama. The
United States Secretary of State has not arrived with a
bushel of ready-to-sign agreements or offered a big
ticket boost for bilateral relations.... This is the
India-US V 3.0 that the Obama administration espouses:
exploring how far India is prepared to sign up for
long-term strategic solutions even when they have
short-term domestic costs. The stuff, in other words,
of what great powers are made of.... Ms Clinton, in
effect, has invited India to partner the US as the
world begins what may be the largest rewriting of the
law of nations since the end of the Cold War. India
cannot afford to ignore this offer..."

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"MAKE U.S. PICK UP ITS TAB"
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11. In a not-so-unexpected display of skepticism, the
pro-BJP English daily PIONEER editorialized that India
can't toe the American line on climate change. The
paper said: "There is an imperious assumption among
policy-makers in the US...that it is for Washington to
command and the capitals of the developing world to
supinely do America's bidding.... Having contributed the
most to environmental degradation and climate change,
the US and its Western allies now want the developing
countries to pick up the tab for the damage.... Union
Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh
deserves to be applauded for forcefully presenting
India's case before US Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton who, and understandably so, has used her visit
to push the American line."


12. THE TELEGRAPH English daily, in the meanwhile,
said: "If indeed India has agreed in principle to such
verification, it is not the first time New Delhi has
signaled its willingness to allow intrusive inspections
of US-origin equipment in its arsenal."

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COMMENTARY IN THE LANGUAGE PRESS
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13. "HILLARY'S GESTURE OF GOODWILL," editorial in July
21 centrist Hindi daily, DAINIK BHASKAR: "Being her
first trip to India after being appointed the Secretary
of State, Hillary's first mandate was to establish a
climate of goodwill. And that she did. Her gestures of
goodwill were evident in her actions - staying at the
Taj, meeting with its employees and signing the
register with remarks of solidarity. Her gestures
demonstrated that the U.S. understands India's pain of
terrorism.... Hillary gave positive signs that the U.S.
will keep up the heat on Pakistan. Hopefully Pakistan
will act against the Lashkar and Al Qaeda. In goading
Pakistan to do so, America has an important role."


14. "MESSAGES IN HILLARY'S INDIA TRIP," editorial in
July 21 nationalist Hindi daily, RASHTRIYA SAHARA:
"Perhaps the most significant thing in Hillary
Clinton's visit was not including Pakistan in the
itinerary. That is a good sign. It shows that the U.S.
is finally moving away from hyphenating India and
Pakistan!"


15. "HILLARY CLINTON'S VISIT TO INDIA", editorial in
July 20 right-of-center Urdu daily, HAMARA SAMAJ: "The
warmth of mutual close relationship, expressed by the
US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton should be
welcomed because it is natural. Its importance
increases manifolds when a country is in the process of
development. She expressed her views on terrorism,
global economy, climate change, non-proliferation
treaty, etc. Some of them deserve our serious
deliberations. Relations with the US are indeed a good
initiative, but if the cost of friendship is high, we
need to tread cautiously."


16. "HILLARY'S HOPE-GIVING VISIT," editorial in July 21
left-of-center Marathi daily, MAHARASHTRA TIMES: "Ever
since the Obama administration took over, India wasn't
sure of the course that U.S.-India bilateral relations
would take henceforth. India was doubtful of the U.S.
willingness to cooperate at various levels. But U.S.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's India visit has
served a definite positive purpose in this context. She
has spelled out the U.S.' readiness to work together,
especially in countering terrorism. Unlike the earlier
whirlwind tours of high-level U.S. dignitaries, which
were hurried affairs, Hillary Clinton's five-day
interaction was welcome. More welcome is the fact that
she started her tour with Mumbai and stayed at the Taj
hotel, a one-time target of Pakistani terrorism. Even
more commendable was her public appearances at St.
Xavier's College and the SEWA women's store - a clear-
cut effort to reach out to the common people of Mumbai,
along with industrialists and economic experts."

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NEGATIVE COMMENTARY
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17. A section of the language press was not convinced
about the U.S. intentions, or the fruitfulness of the
Secretary's visit. Some editorial excerpts follow:


18. "MOOD OF CLINTON VISIT," editorial in July 21
independent Kannada daily, VIJAY KARNATAKA: "What was
the purpose of Clinton's visit? India has not accepted
the U.S. argument with regard to climate change. India
is opposing CTBT from the beginning. Hillary has not
even uttered a single harsh word against Pakistan about
terror emanating from its soil."


19. "US SECRETARY OF STATE VISITS INDIA," editorial in
July 20 right-of-center Urdu daily, RASHTRIYA SAHARA:
"While some people of India are holding out their hands
to Secretary Hillary Clinton, others are furious about
her compliments to Pakistani politicians. Such attitude
shows that America shall never seclude Pakistan,
despite our close relations with the former."


20. "INDO-US RELATIONS," editorial in July 21 right-of-
center Urdu daily, RASHTIYA SAHARA: "When American
diplomats visit India, they say things India loves to
hear. In Pakistan, they speak in a changed language and
voice. It may not be the case with Hillary Clinton, but
the U.S. approach toward India and Pakistan has always
been two-faced.... How far will Hillary's assurances to
India on issues like terrorism stand true? Difficult to
say!"


21. "CUNNING AMERICA," editorial in July 21 right-of-
center Gujarati daily, GUJARAT SAMACHAR: "Be it
President Bush or President Obama, be it Condoleezza
Rice or Hillary Clinton, all are sides of the same
coin. They have only one agenda and that is to
pressure India. It is precisely with this agenda in
mind that U.S. Secretary of State Clinton is in India
to pressure India to sign the NPT and start a dialogue
with Pakistan among other things... Despite Pakistan's
complicity in the Mumbai terror attacks being proved
beyond doubt, America provided Pakistan with millions
of dollars in aid. If India wants to emerge as a
global power, she needs to fully understand America's
cunning nature."
ROEMER